cajun

Woo hoo Yippe for you Tiffy! After all you have been through, things are looking so much better! Congratulations for your determination.

I wonder if the loss of urgency might be due to the fact that there is so much less abdominal mass pressing down on the bladder once you have lost 20 or 30 lbs. Pick up a 20 or 30 lb child, and imagine feeling that weight sitting on top of your lower abdomen with a bull bladder.... It might just be this mechanical reason. How many of you no longer have stress incontinence ( a little involuntary leaking when you cough, sneeze, or strain), since your surgery?

Me too! ....dieting for 50 YEARS. That's FIVE ZERO YEARS. !!!!! But I am going to spend the last 20 years of my life at a healthy weight, with a healthy eating pattern. NOT a DIET! Will soon be setting a date because I am satisfied with the research I have done through this site and online, no looking back. This week I started easing into more exercise and cutting calories, and have lost 6 lbs already, in 7 days! I can feel it. Getting ready and loving it! I am so looking forward to the new me!

LAB2k Congratulations on making a decision and setting your date! Soon we will be seeing "less of you". :) How did you like the shake? What is the name of that product? I'm like you...stevia is my only option...can't tolerate the other stuff. Cajun

Really, it is outrageous that we are purchasing a service in US hospitals and physicians' offices, but cannot be told in advance what our purchase will cost. I understand that needed services may change if a complication arises, but we should at least be able to getin advance a baseline estimate of what an uncomplicated service will cost us for xyz procedure and hospital stay. I agree, it is another reason I love the idea of going to Mexico too.

So it is true...How yucky. Even more worrisome, read this article: Vegetarians in Paradise/BSE in Gelatin/Gelatin and Mad Cow Disease/Gelatin History/FDA and Gelatin I'm going to look at the FDA website to see the source document...always like to be sure of the source... Have you noticed how often "hydrolyzed protein" is included in foods? Could from a vat of boiled cow hides. Icky Icky Icky.

Ha! Re the boiled cow's hides comment: I think that I read somewhere on this forum that jello is made from boiled cows hides. Might have been a joke. At any rate, I don't eat it! It does sound gross, if not dangerous...BSE risk. ....STEER CLEAR of that. Ha Ha

I finally found a protein powder online that does not contain any artificial sweetener...just stevia. It is called pro energy, by Energy First. Has anyone tried it? If so how do you like it?

Jay Robb also contains aspartamine...as well as stevia.

Yuck...I would not go there! Not to mention the fact that if you vomit, you are risking a leak every time you do so. Not worth it to be experienced in it!

CONGRATULATIONS HELEN...YOU ARE DULY STONED! Should we call it "Stonedom"??? What a great accomplishment.!!!!!!

3 ounces rotissere chicken from Sam's (breast, with skin removed) 1/2 cup fat free lactaid milk Put in blender and select "liquify". It is simple, fast, and delicious soup! No need to add seasonings. Sam's took care of that! 29 grams Protein.

Susan, Wow, you got a lot of bang for your buck! Did he charge extra? Did you have spinal as well as general anesthesia? Cajun

The stomach itself does not hurt, but you might have a few twinges from the skin incisions where the instruments are inserted. I think that gas pains are probably the most that people complain about. I've had laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, and that's what I found bothered me the most, not the skin incisions. Even so, it was not bad. I'd say 3 out of 5, and very temporary...couple of days.

What foods does he recommend for the "full liquid" stage? Thanks Cajun

Do you see any ingredients listed on the Chike product? I can't find any on the internet. The nutritional values are given but it does not say if the protein is from "boiled cow hides", if the sugar is fructose, if there are artificial sweeteners in it, etc etc. I would not use a product until I knew what was in it and I can't seem to find that information online. Cajun

Having had laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, I know what you mean about the gas that is used to insufflate the abdomen. However anytime you have anesthesia, the gut slows down for awhile, because it is anesthetized as well! So you get bowel gas if there is food in it waiting for things to get going again so it can be digested, because stasis causes bowel gas. I'm not concerned about one more day on liquids if it means a more comfortable post-op course...just another opportunity to "lose a few"! :001_smile:

Yep! I sure do!

I found a "healthometer" scale that measures weight, body fat, and hydration via impedence at Wally World. Under 40 bucks. It's made by Sunbeam. It matches what I saw at my Dr's office so must be accurate.

I've been wondering if it might be better to just not put anything solid into the tummy the day before surgery...to help limit the gas pains after surgery...I think that's what I will do when I get to that point. Stick to clear liquids the day before...

Why only AFTER you eat? Seems like you would be in ketosis ALL the time on this diet.

Yep, guess you're right. I did not know the gauze was dissolvable.

What is chike?

Did I read somewhere that protein powder that contains "isolates" is better that that which contains "concentrate"? Or do I have it backwards? Cajun

Thanks McM